In Grade 1, you need to know the following terms and signs. Remember there is a webinar on this subject for you to view and you can also try the ‘quick test’.
| accelerando | gradually getting quicker |
| adagio | slow |
| allegretto | fairly quick (but not as quick as allegro) |
| allegro | quick |
| andante | at a walking pace |
| cantabile | in a singing style |
| crescendo (or cresc.) | gradually getting louder |
| da capo (or D.C.) | repeat from the beginning |
| dal segno (or D.S.) | repeat from the sign |
| descrescendo (or decresc.) | gradually getting quieter |
| diminuendo (or dim.) | gradually getting quieter |
| fine | the end |
| f (forte) | loud |
| ff (fortissimo) | very loud |
| legato | smoothly |
| lento | slow |
| mezzo | half |
| maestoso | majestic |
| mf (mezzo forte) | moderately loud |
| mp (mezzo piano) | moderately quiet |
| moderato | moderately |
| p (piano) | quiet |
| pp (pianissimo) | very quiet |
| poco | a little |
| rallentando (or rall.) | gradually getting slower |
| ritardando (or rit.) | gradually getting slower |
| ritenuto (or rit.) | held back |
| staccato (or stacc.) | detached |
| tempo | speed, time |
Below are the signs you need to know for Grade 1.
These signs above and below the notes are accents.
A dot over or under a note means staccato (short and detached).
This sign over or under a note is a pause. Pause on the note.
This sign over a group of notes is called a slur, not to be confused with a tie. Perform the notes smoothly.
Repeat marks.